Fabric-making machine.



C. H. FREDERICK.

FABRIC MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.18. I914.

1,176,138. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET I. l

11222; f C/arwzce f REP/"4'01;

THE COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. C.

C. H. FREDERICK.

FABRIC MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED M'AR.18. 1914.

C. H. FREDERICK.

FABR|C MAKING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18. 1914.

1,176,13. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

I 5' SHEETS-SHEET a. (%4 oz m5 COLPMBIA PMNOGRAPH .50., WASHINGTON, D. c.

C. H. FREDERICK.

FABRIC MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AR. 18. 1914.

1,1 76,1 38. Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4. 7 5

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAFH c0., WASHINGTON D C C. H. FREDERICK;

FABRIC MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL18. 1914.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- llllllllNl Wmumlllll 1 FFICEY CLARENCE H. FREDERICK, OF KENOSI-IA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIMMONS -MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WISCONSIN.

KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF FABRIC-.MAKING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 21 1916.

Application filed'March 18, 1914. Serial No. 825,469.

To all whom iz'f concern Be it known that I. CLARENCE FRED- ERICK, citizen of the United States, residing at Ken'osha, in the county of Kenosha and State of \Visconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fabric- Making Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact descript on, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for malting fabrics and, in its preferred embodiment, includes characteristics of construction wh ch are covered by claims contained in my United States Patent No. 1,148,? 66, granted August 3, 1915. v b

By means of my invention fabric units which are being assembled into a fabric are individually joined to a previously formed fabric portion. My machine is of particular service in the formation of those fabrics wherein the units are formed into rows by their attachment to previously formed rows, though obviously the invention is not to be limited to the formation of such a fabric.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred embodiment thereof and in which Figure 1 is a front view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, a. part of the machine being broken away owing to lack of space; Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation illustrating the proportion which the length of the complete machine bears to its height; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4c is a sectional view on line 44: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a view on line 6-45 of Fig. 7; Fig. 7 is a view on line 77 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view of a part of the mechanism taken in the direction of arrow 8 in Fig. 1; Fig.9 is a s de elevation of the structure illustrated in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view of a part of the mechanism taken in the direction of arrow 10 of Fig. 1; Fig. 11 is a sectional view on line 1111 of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a view generally taken on line 1212 of Fig. 10, the parts being slightly readjusted in Fig. 12 to reveal characteristic of construction; Fi 13 is a view on line 13-13 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a view illustrating a part of a fabric which may be; constructed by m ans of my machine; and Fig. 15 is aperspeotive view of one of the units entering into thefabric 'a partof which is'shown in Fig; 14.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different figures.

Power is applied to the machine in any suitable way, for example, with the aid of a driving pulley l in permanently fixed relation to a driving shaft 2. This shaft operates mechanism for forming the fabric units 3, this mechanism not being specifically claimed herein but being included as an integral part of the machine for the sake of convenience and economy and as aflording a suitable source of supply for the fabric units which are to be included in a fabric by means of the mechanism of my invention. I will therefore give only a short description of the fabric unit making mechanism. This mechanism includes cams l, cam rollers 5 riding upon the cams 4, cam levers 6 carrying the cam rollers 5, adjustable pushers 7 carried by the levers 6, and fabric unit forming slides 8 pressed inwardly by the pushers 7 when said pushers are pushed inwardly and withdrawn by springs 9 when the pushers 7 are withdrawn. There is also included a stationary pin 10 (which I also employ as a part of the mechanism of my invention) and a forming block 11, which elements 10 and 11 cooperate with forming dies 12 that act upon pieces of wire of predete mined length to form the fabric units 3 (Fig. 5).

The wire which is fed to the machine is illustrated at 13 and is cut into pieces of different lengths for the purpose of enabling the formation of the fabric units 3 by means of a cutter lei operated by a cam 15 turning with the main shaft 2. The hook ends 3 are formed of benders a which are in gear connection with rack-bars 6, these rack-bars being spring-pressed by springs c to restore the benders to their normal positions and being forwardly moved to operate the benders by adjustable pushers (Z carried by levers e which in turn carry cam rollers j that ride upon cams g for the purpose of controlling the "actuation of the rack-bars b. Strippers h operate to strip the wire fro-m the benders, these strippers being operated by a lever 11 carrying a cam roller k operated upon by a cam Z. During the operation of the benders the: wire; is pressed against pin -l0" by a,

beneath the heads clamping member m which is operated upon by a lever 0 carrying a roller 79 operated upon by a cam q. The formed fabric units are pushed from the forming block 11 on to a reel 16 constituting the preferred form of temporary fabric link unit support, driven as hereinafter described. each fabric unit being received between adjacent pins 17 and of these pins. v

The mechanism which I employ for pushing the-formed fabric'units from the block ,11 includes a pair of pushing pins 18 which aregpressed rearwardly by coil springs 19 for the purpose of withdrawing the pins after they have operated, and which pins are caused to perfcrmtheir function by being pushed forwardly by adjustable pushers 20 carried upon levers 21. These levers 21 carry camrollers 22 which turn upon cams 23. The pins 18 engage upper portions of a formed fabric unit 3 and an additional pusher 24 is provided for engaging a lower portion of the formed fabric unit. this pusher being spring pressed rearwardly by a coil spring 25 for the purpose of withdrawing thepusher .24 after its has operated, and whichpusher is caused to perform its function by being pushed forwardlv by a pusher 26 carried upon a lever 27. This lever 27 carries a cam roller 28 which turns upon a cam 29. The pushing devices 18 and 14 cooperate to push the fabric unit from theblock 11 sorthat, this fabric unit will temporarily occupv the position illustrated in dctted'lines in Fig. 13. The pusher 24 is now operated, while the pushers 18 are staticnary' to push the lower end of the formed fabric unit from theformingpin 10. At

this time a cam nose 30 upon the reel 16 is positioned 'with its point between the sides of the formed fabric unit, the nose 30 being sufficiently broad at its base to have such cam acti n upon thefabric unit asto cause this fabric unit to be lowered as the fabric unit is being brought to a vertical position, the lowering of the fabric unit not occurring, however, until it hasbeen stripped from the forming ,pin 10. Vhcnthe pusher 24 has pushed the fabricunit-against the reel 16 the fabric unit has been lowered from the position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 13 to a position in which thehooks 3 are engagedeach with a loop 3 of adjacent fabric units disposed upon the top of the reel by a previous operation. During the forward and'downward movement of the fabric unit that is being displaced from the forming block the. sides of the fabric unit under re moval slip overthe heads of adjacent pinsward their complemental sides,. an operationv 'tially illustrated in which occurs after the anvils 31 have been lowered to the position to engage the hook ends 3 after which the forward movement of the pusher pins 18 is continued sufficiently to mash the hook ends 3 against their complemental sides whereby the newly formed fabric unit is articulated with the loops 3 of two previously formed fabric units. The.

anvils 31 are mounted upon a common lever 32 which is provided with tapering grooves 33 in which a pin 34 may have limited play with respect to the lever 32. .'A forward movement of a shaft 35 carrying the pin 34 books at 3 of the first row of a newfabric elevated poare not closed'owing to the then sitions of the anvils 31. By meansofmechanism to be hereinafter described the anvils 31 are maintained in their elevated positions for the purpose stated by means of a hook 39 which is maintained in engagement with a pin 40 carried by the lever 32 during the formation of the first row of the new fabric.

After each freshly formed fabric unit has been applied to the left-hand vertical face of the reel 16 (Fig. 4) saidreel is moved longitudinally ofitself a fabric unit space. l/Vhen these fabric units are in the first row of a new fabric the anvils 31 are maintained elevated, as described, but in the succeeding rows of the same fabric the anvils 31"are brought into play for the purpose specified,v each fabric unit of the succeedingrows, as it is added to itsrow, being appliedto adjacent fabric .units 3 of the precedingly formed .row whereby the formation par- Fig. 14 results. The reel is reciprccated the whole extent in one direction during the formationof one'row and is preferably reci rocated in the return direction during which 'returnreciprocation the next row is formed, though I do not wish to be limited to the formation of fabric unit rows during each reciprocal movement of the reel. Itis understood that the reel is turned after it has been moved longitudinally ofitself sufiiciently to enable the formation of a row of fabric units before the next row of fabric units is formed. The mechanism by which the reel is reciprocated is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 1.4, 6 and 7. "The'ends of'the reel 16 are journaled in'bearings 41' and these bearings are providedwith arms 42 through which a guidev rod- 43 passes.

tion of each row of, fabric'units, in a manner to be, described. The outer ends; of the arms-42 are united by aT-member 45 which constitutes a: mounting for rack bars 46,

47"which are fixed upon the mounting 45.

and. aregtherefore fixed with respect to each oth r. teeth 48 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6') and teeth 49- (shown in full lines in Fig. 6), the teeth upon one rackbar sloping oppositely to the teeth of the other. An actuating pawl 50 co'ciperates with the teeth 48 to reciprocate the rack bar 46 step by step while the actuating pawl 51 cooperates with the teeth 49; to move the rack bar 47 step by step, means-being provided for holding one pawl out of action while the other pawlis in action so that an operating pawl will cause step-by-step movement of' its rack-bar together with the T-m'ember 45, the arms 42. the bearings 41, and the reel 16. Pawl 50 is carried by the bar-'52 and pawl 51 is carried upon the bar 53. An adjustable pusher 54 operates to push'the bar 52 in turn to push the pawl 50'when this pawl is to move its rack-bar 46, the pusher 54 being withdrawn each time it has caused a movement of the rack-bar 46, the spring 55 then operating to withdraw the pawl carrier 52 in readiness to enable the pusher 54 again to push the carrier 52, each actuating movement of the pusher 54 and the consequent results occurring aftera fabric unit has been freshly applied to the reel 16. The pusher 54 is mounted upon a lever 56 which carries a cam roller 57 that is operated upon by a cam 58. An adjustable pusher 59 operates to push the bar 53 in turn to push the pawl 51 when this pawl is to move its rack-bar 47', the pusher 59 being withdrawn each time so as to cause a movement of the rack-bar 47, the spring 60 operating. to withdraw the pawl carrier 53 in readiness to enable the pusher 59 again to push the carrier 53, each actuating movement of the pusher 59 and the consequent results occurring after a fabric unit has been freshly applied to the reel 16. The pusher 59 is mounted upon a lever 61 which carries a ca-mroller 62 that is operated upon by a cam 63. It is understood that the cams 9, Z, q, 4, 23, 29, 38, 58, and 63 are in fixed rclationto the main shaft 2, whereby the various cam operations occur in orderlv sequence.

The left-hand arm 42 is interposed between and is cotineratively related with two collars 64, 65, said left-hand arm 42 being in agageta at.nithotlieacellarr fieadaring the.

These rack barsv respectively have longitudinal movement of the reel 16 through a space equal to one and one-half times the regular tooth spaces or one and onehalf times a fabric unit space when the reel is finishing its movement to the left. When the reel is finishing its movement to the right the left-hand arm 42 engages the, collar to move it a similar space, to return the-collar 64 toits first position. Thus therod 43, to which the collars64 and 65;are fixed, is moved to the, left a space anda halfcas the right-hand end of one row is; finished and a space and a half to the right as the left-hand end of the companion row is finished. The rod 43 carries a collar 66 with sloping ends, this collar being shown in Fig. 1 in engagement with a roller 67. The movement of the rod 43 one tooth or fabric unit space to the left from the position'illustrated in Fig. 1 is just sufficient to transfer the collar 66 from one side of the roller 67 to engagement with the other side of this roller, the additional movement of the rod 43 through a half a space moving the collar 66 a half space to the left from the roller 67, this result occurring when the reel has been moved to its leftmost position. When the reel has been moved to its rightmost position the arm 42 will enpage the collar 65 to restore the collar 66 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. Each time the collar 66 passes beneath the roller 67 it raises said roller and the right-hand end of a similarly pivoted lever 68 against the force of a spring 69. The left-hand end of the lever 68 is thereupon depressed to remove the wedging cam 70 carried thereby (Figs. 3, 11 and 12) from engagement with the closure pin or member 71 whereupon the expansion spring 72 is free to move the pin 71 toward a collar 73 which is fixed on the shaft 2. hen the shaft 2 turns the collar sufiiciently to present the opening 74 therein to the pin 71 the spring 72 will insert the pin 71 in the opening 74 whereby said pill couples the collar 7 3 with the collar 75 that carries the pin 71 so that the collars 73 and 75 will then turn together, the collar 73 being unaccompanied by the collar 75 when the pin 71 is out of engagement with the collar 73. The cam 76 is thus turned one complete revolution by the shaft 2 at the conclusion of the formation of each row of fabric units, the slot 7 7 in the pin 71 being in position, when the pin 71is within the opening 74, to receive the sharp end or toe of the shoe 70 when the cam 76 nears the completion of its revolution so that at the conclusion of the revo lution of this cam the pin 71 is fully withdrawn from the recess 74 wherebv the cam 76 is limited to its single revolution at theconclusion of the formation of each row of fabric units.

..i-tlletGhet;wheelfl'lscis. infixedrelatiomtm the reel and has four equidistant peripherallyelongated teeth each adapted to be engaged by an actuating pawl 79 mounted upon an arm 80 loosely mounted upon .a cylindrical continuation of the shaft 44. A

link 81 is pivotally connectedat one end to the face of the cam 76 and'at the other-end is connected'with the arm 80 so that as the cam 7 6 turns one revolution it causes the link 81 to operate the pawl 79 to turn the shaft 44 and reel 16 carried thereby a quarter turn, the pawl 79 being withdrawn to its starting point when the revolution of the cam 76 has ceased. In this way the reel 16 is turned a quarter turn each time a row of fabric units is formed. 82 is also in fixed relation with the reel and has four notches 83 adapted to receive a holding pawl 84 which is shown in Fig. 10'as being received in one of the recesses 83. After the reel has been turned a quarter turn the periphery of the cam 76 operates upon a roller 85 that is'carried'by a cam lever 86 to turn said cam lever to bring the holding pawl 84 into engagement with the lowermost notch 83 whereby the reel 16 is firmly held from rotation (though it is free to move longitudinally of itself) during the ensuing formation of a new row of fabric units.

As the machine is organized thepush ers 54, 59 mutually approach when'they push upon their associate pawl bars 52, 53 and mutually separate when the springs 55, 60 operate to restore these bars. On this account means are provided for throwing one or the other of the pawls 50. 51 out of action. This means includes a plate 87 the middle and shorter portion of which underlies the racks 46 and 47. When the plate 87 is adjusted to the right it will overlie the pawl 51 to pre ent this pawl from'operating and when adjusted to the'left it will overlie the pawl to prevent this pawl from operating whereby the reel'16 mav be limited to cooperative relation with and the actuating influence of one or the other of the pawls 50, 51. The plate 78 is shifted out of engagement with one of the pawls 50,51 into engagement with the other as each row of fabric units is completed. The rack bar 47 is chamfered at its left hand end as indi cated in full lines in Fig. 6 while the rack bar 46 is chamfe'red at its right hand end as indicated by the sloping dotted line at the rght of Fig. 6. The pawl carrying bar 52 also car ies a composite pawl made up of an upwardly spring pressed portion 88 and gravity operated portion 89, the portion 88 carrying a pin 90 underlying the portion 89 and being sloped at its upper end and there engag ng a rack bar 47 so as to have its position determined and whereby the portion 88 is adapted to rise when moving over the chamfered left hand'end of the bar 47- then A holding wheel to cause the pin 90 to raise the pawl section 89 into the plane of the plate 87 whereby the plate is moved to the right to uncover and render operative the pawl 50 as the rack bar 47 finishes its stroke to the left whereby the pawl 50 is brought into cooperative relation with the rack bar 46 and the plate 87 covers'the pawl 51 to remove it from operative relation with therack bar' 47. The pawl carrying bar 53 also carries a composite pawlmade up of an upwardly spring pressed portion 91 and gravity-oper-- ated portion 92, the portion 91 carrying a pin '93 underlying the portion 92 and being sloped at its upper end and there engaging a rack bar 46 so as to have its position determ ned and whereby the portion 91 is adapted to rise when moving over the champawl 51 comes into contact with rack-bar;

47 midway between two teeth whereby the first step movement of the bar/47 is through a distance'eq'ual to a half tooth space after which the movements of the bars 47 are each equal to a; full toothspace until the last movement is reached whereupon the movement of the bar 47 is again only a half tooth space, a result which is acc"mplished by-spacing the last tooth at the left ofthe bar 47 a half tooth space toward its lever at its right.- By observing Fig. 14 the reason for the half-movements ofthe bar 47 at the beginning and end of its movement'to the right will be understood when it is stated that the step by step movements of this bar 47 to the right accompanv the formation of each shorter row of fabric units WlllCh must have. in the fabric shown,-

one less unit than each longer row. Each time the reel 16 is turned a quarter turn one of the four pins 94 engages a pawl carrier 95 to'move this carrier a suflicient extent to cause'the pawl 96 carried thereby to move the ratchet wheel 97 one toothspace. The wheel 97 is shown as being provided with twenty teeth, the machine being adapted to .the formation of aifabric having twenty rows of fabric units WV en thelast row ofa fabric has been formed the ratchet wheel 97 sprngs the notch 98 in the wheel 99. into.

register with the nose '100 "of the spring pressed rider 101 whereby the rider moves inwardly toward the wheel 97, 5 it being understood that thewheelsf97 and 99 are in fixed relationr- The rider 101 is fifxed'1 upon the shaft 102' upon wh ch the book- 39 is also fixed (Fig. 4) whereby the hook 39 is placed beneath the pin 40 carried by the anvil structure 31 when the rider 101 r moves toward the wheel 97 to prevent the 1 first row'of the new fabric from being attached to the last row of the completed fabric. In reading Figs. 4 and 8 in connection with each other it should be remembered that these views are taken in opposite directio-ns. The wheels 97 and 99 are mounted upon a ccmmcn shaft 103, a spring 104 operating to prevent these wheels frcm being shifted beyond the positions in which they are brought by the pawl 96 until said pawl again operates.

While the mechanism for forming the links or fabric units is not broadly new with me, yet the relationship of the fabric unit forming mechan'sm and the fabric unit assembling mechanism is considered broadly no've lVhi-le I have herein shown and particularly' described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without departing from the spiritof my invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following '1. A machine for forming fabric which includes mechanism for forming wire into fabric units; mechanism for joining the fabric units singly and side by side to a previously formed fabric portion; and means for transferring the formed fabric units from the former to the latter mechanism.

2. A machine for forming fabric including means for forming wire into fabric I units; mechanism for distributing the fabric units in rows and attaching fabric units as they are distributed in their rows to previously formed rows of fabric units; and means for transferring the formed fabric units from the former to the latter mechanism.v

8. A machine for forming fabric which includes a reel; means for transferring fabric units'to the reel; fabric units joining mechanism for joining adjacent units while upon the reelzand means for effecting relative step by'step movement between the reel and the fabric unit joining mechanism and also between the reel and said transferring means whereby fabric units aredistributed in rows upon the reel and fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row;

4. A machine for forming fabric which includes a reel; fabric units to the reel': fabric unit'joining mechanism for joining said units one at a time with; adj acent unitsv supported. by said means for transferring reel; and means foreifecting'rel'ative step by step movement between the reel and the fabric unit joining mechanism .and also between the'reel and said transferring means whereby fabric units are distributed in rows upon the reel and fabric units are connected with a-djacentfabric units in an adjacent row.

5. A machine for forming fabric which includes a reel; fabric unit joining mechanism for oining ad acent units while upon the reel; and means for eifecting relative step by step movement between the reel and the fabric unit joining mechanism whereby fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row.

6. A machine for forming fabric which includes a fabric unit support; means for transferring fabric units to the fabric unit support;fabric unitjoining mechanism for joining adiacent units while upon the fabric unit support; and means for effecting relative step by step movement between the fabric unit support and the fabric unit joinmg mechanism and also between the fabric unit support and said transferring means whereby fabric units are distributed in rows upon the fabric unit support and fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row.

,7. A machine for forming fabric which includesa fabric unit support; means for transferring fabric units to the fabric unit support: fabric unit joining mechanism for joining units one at a time with adiacent units supported by the fabric unit support; and means for effecting relat ve step by step movement between the fabric unit support and the fabric unit joining mechanism and also between the fabric unit support and said transferring means whereby fabric units are distributed in rows upon the fabric unitsupport and fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row.

8. A machine for forming fabric which includes a fabric unit support; fabric unit joining mechanism for joining adjacent units while upon the fabric unitsupport; and means for effecting relative step by step movement between the fabric unit support and the fabric unit joining mechanism whereby fabric units are connected with adjacentfabric units in an adjacent row.

9. A machine for forming fabric which includes a reel; means for transferring fabric units to the reel: fabric unit joining mechanism for joining adjacent units while upon the reel; means for effecting relative step by step movement between the reel and the fabric unit joining mechanism and alsobetween the reel and said transferring means whereby fabric units are distributed in rows upon the reel and fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row; and means for effecting the OIIllSSIOIl of the connectlon of units of the last rowof one formed fabric with units of the first row of the next fabric the reel and said transferring means whereby fabric units are distributed in rows upon the reel and fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row; and means for effecting theomission of the connection of units of the last row of one formed fabric with units of the first row of the next fabric to be formed.

11, A machine for forming fabric which includes a reel; fabric unit joining mechanism for joining adjacent units while upon the reel; meansfor effecting relative step by step movement between the reel and the fabric unit joining mechanism whereby fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric units in an adjacent row; and meansfor effecting the omission of the connection of units of the last row of one formed fabric with units of the first row of the next fabric to be formed.

12. A machine for forming fabric which includes a reel; fabric unit'joining mechanism for joining units one at a time with adjacent units supported on said reel; means for effecting relative step by step movement between the reeland the fabric unit joining mechanism whereby fabric units are con-, nected with ad acent fabr1c units 1n an adjacent row; and means for effecting the omission of the connection of units of the last row of one formed fabric with units of the first row ofthe next fabric to be formed.-

13. A machine for forming fabric which includes a fabric unit support; means for transferring fabric units to the fabric unit support; fabric unit joining mechanism for joining adjacent units while upon the fabric unit support; means for effecting relative step by step movement between the fabric unit support and the fabric unit joining mechanism and also between the fabric unit support and said transferring means whereby fabric units are distributedin rows upon the fabric unit support and fabric'unitsf are connected with adjacent fabric 'units in an adjacent row; and means for effecting the omission of the connection of units of the last row of one formed fabric with units,

of the first row of the next fabric tob'e formed. V

- 14. A machine for forming fabric which includes a fabric unit support; "means fortransferring fabric units one at a time'to the fabric unit support; mechanism for joining units one at a ,511118 with adjacent units supported by said fabric unit support; meansfcr effecting relative step by step movement between thefabric unit support and the fabric unit joining mechanism and also between the fabric unit support and said transferring means where byfabric units are distributed in rows upon fabric unit oining the fabric unit support and fabric units are connected with adjacent fabric unitsin' an a adjacent row; and means for effecting the omission of the connection of units ofthe last row of one formed fabric with units of the first row of the next fabric to be formed,

15. A machine for forming fabric which includes a fabric unit support; fabric unit joining mechanism for joining adjacent units while upon the fabric unitsuppOrt;

means for effecting relative step by step movement between the fabric -unit' support and the fabric unit joining mechanism whereby fabric units are connected withradmeans for effecting. relative step by' step,

unit support jacent fabric units. in an adjacent row; and

means for effecting the omission of the connection of units of the last row of one formed fabric with units of the first row of the next fabric to be formed; 7

17. In a machine for making wire fabric composed of transverse, lnterconnected, ad-

jacent rows of identical-adjacent and con-- nected metal fabric units, each of saidunits having an eye portion atone side ofthe transverse row and a mating hook portion at the other side of said row, said mating portions connecting together the'adjacent" rows of the fabric, the combination ,of a support for carrying the finished length of fabric, mechanism for cutting unit lengths from the end of a continuous wire supply, partly forming said unit lengths and engagingthe same with the end of the finished" and meansfor effecting relative step-by-step, movesaid sever fabric carried by said, support,

ments of the fabric-support and mg, formmg and engaglng mechanism.

18. In a machlne' for making wire fabric composed of transverse,interconnected. a'd-l acent rows of identical adjacentand con nected metalfabric units, each of saidunits'" having an'eye'portion at one side bf the.

transverse row' and a, mating hook portion at the other side of said row, said mating portions connecting together the adjacent rows of fabric, the combination of a support for carrying the finished length of fabric, mechanism for cutting unit lengths from the end of a continuous wire supply, aartly forming said unit lengths and. engaging the same with the end of the finished fabric carried by said support, means for completing each of said unit lengths, one at a time, after its engagement with said fabric, and means for effecting relative stepby-step movements of the fabric-support and said severing, forming and engaging mechanism.

19. In a machine for making wire fabric composed of transverse, interconnected, adjacent rows of-identical, adjacent and connected metal fabric units, each of said units having an eye portion at one side of the transverse row and a mating hook portion at the other side of said row, said mating portions connecting together the adjacent rows of the fabric, the combination of a support for carrying the finished length, of fabric, mechanism for cutting unit lengths from the end of a continuous wire supply,

partly forming said unit lengths and en-- gaging the same with the end of the finished fabric carried by said support, means for completing each of said unit lengths, one at a time, after its engagement with said fabric, means for effecting relative step-bystep movements of the fabric-support and said severing, forming and engaging mechanism, and means for effecting automatic reversals of said step-by-step movements after a predetermined number of steps, whereby a flat fabric of predetermined width is produced.

2.0. In a machine for forming a continuous length of, wire fabric composed of trans verse, adjacent, interconnected rows of identical, adjacent connected, wire fabric units, each of said units having an eye at one side of the transverse row in which it is located, and a mating hook at the opposite side of said row, said adjacent parts constituting the inter-engaging longitudinal connections between the adjacent rows, combination of mechanism for initially forming said fabricnnits, one at a time, a support for carrying a finished length of fabric, means for connecting the partly formed fabric units, one at a time, to the end of the finished fabric carried by said support, means for completing the unit after its engagement with said fabric, and means for effecting relative movements of the fabric-support and said forming mechanism.

21. In a machine for forminga continuous length of wire fabric composed of transverse, interconnected, adjacent rows of the.

identical, adjacent, connected wire fabric units, each of said units and a hook part mating with the eye part of a unit in an adjacent row, said mating parts connecting together adjacent units of the fabric, the combination of mechanism for cutting off unit lengths, one at a time from a continuous wire supply, partly forming said unit lengths and engaging the same with the end of a previously completed fabric length, a support for carrying the finished fabric length, means for completing the unit after its engagement with the fabric on said support, and means for effecting relative step-by-step movements of the fabric-support and said severing, forming and engaging mechanism, whereby a continuous length of fabric is produced.

22. In a machine for forming a continuous length of wire fabric composed of transverse, interconnected, adjacent rows of identical, adjacent connected wire fabric units, each of said units having an eye part and a hook part mating with the eye part of a unit in an adjacent row, said eye and hook parts connecting together adjacent fabric units in said fabric, the combination of mechanism fcr severing unit lengths from a continuous wire supply, mechanism for partially forming said unit lengths, means for engaging said partly formed unit lengths, one at a time, with the end of a finished fabric length, a support for carrying a finished fabric length, means for completing the partly formed fabric units, one at a time, after its engagement with said fabric whereby said unit is secured in said fabric, and means for effecting relative movement of the fabric support and said severing and forming mechanisms whereby a continuous length of fabric is produced.

23. In a machine for forming a contin' uous length of wire fabric composed of transverse, interconnected, adjacent rows of identical, adjacent, connected wire fabric units, each, of said units having an eye part and a hook part mating with the eye part having an eye part of a unit in an adjacent row, said eve and fabric units in said fabric, the combination of mechanism for severing unit lengths from a continuous wire supply, mechanism for partially forming said unit lengths, means for engaging said partly formed unit lengths, one at a time, with the end of a finished fabric length, a support for carrying a finished fabric length, means for completing the partly formed fabric units, one at a time, after its engagement with said fabric whereby said unit is secured in said fabric, means for effecting relative step-bystep movements of the fabric support and said forming and engaging mechanisms, and means for effecting automatic reversals of said step-by-step movements after a predetermined number Web of fabric of produced.

Qt-ln a machine for making a continuous length of wire fabric composed of of steps, whereby a ii at transverse, interconnected, adjacent rows of with the end of the finished fabric carried means for completing the I by said support, formation of the hook of the unit after its engagement with said support whereby each of said units, one at a time, is securely connected in said fabric, and means for effecting relative movement of the fabric support and said initial forming mechanism.. v i

25. In a machine for making a continuous length of wire fabric composed of transverse, interconnected adjacent rows of identical adjacent wire fabric units, each,

of said units having an eye part and a hook part mating with the eye part of an adjacent unit in an adjacent row', said mating parts connecting together adjacent units of the fabric, the combinationof mechanism for partly forming said fabric units, one at a time, whereby said hook is incompletely formed, a support for carrying the finished length of fabric, means for engaging the partly formed fabric units, one at a time. with the end of the finished fabric carried by said support, means for comrpleting the formation of the hook of the unit after its engagement with said support whereby each of said units, one at a time, is securely connected in said fabric, means for effecting relative step-by-step move ments of the'fabric-s'upport and said initial predetermined width is mechanism for partly forming said forming mechanism, and means for effect ing an automatic reversal of said step-by ber of steps, of predetermined width is produced.

26. In a machine for forming a c ontin uous length of flat wire fabric composed of transverse, interconnected, adjacent rows of predetermined lenglh' made up of identical :step movements after a predetermined numwhereby a flat web of fabric adjacent connected wire fabric units, each of said units having an eye at one side of the row in which it is situatedanda mating hook at the opposite side of said-row, said mating hooks and eyes connecting together the adjacent transverse rows of the fabric and the adjacent unitsof the rows, the combination of mechanism for severing unit lengths from a continuous wire supply,

unit lengths, one at a time, whereby the hook Dart is incompletely formed, a reel for carrying a previously completed fabric length, the axis of said reel being located substantially parallel with the transverse rows, means for engaging the partly formed hooks of the incomplete fabric units with the end of the finished fabric carried by said support, means for completing the formationof each of the unitsfone at a time, afterits engagement with said fabric whereby said-hooks are completely closed and the units are securely connected to said finished fabric lengh,'means for effecting fabric relative step-by-step axial movements of V the fabric reel and sald severingyforming,

andengaging mechanisms, and means for effecting automatic reversals of said stepby-step movements after a predetermined number of steps in each of two directions, whereby a flat web of fabric of mined width is produced. 7

In witness'whereof, I hereunto subscribe my 1914 g GLARENCE H. FREDERICK. I/Vitnesses: i

G. L. CRAGG,

ETTA L. WHITEJ l Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents;

Washington, D. G. I

predetername :this 16th day of March A..D., 

